Title: Second Takes

Author: Naser Mojtahed

Genres: Non-fiction / Film criticism

 

Second Takes by Naser Mojtahed is a fifty-essay collection of critiques on classic films, some well-known, others more obscure. Mojtahed analyzes characters, themes, plots, motives, cinematography, and more. This easy-to-read guide complements watching the films for anyone interested in exploring classic movies more in depth.

Second Takes proves to be a remarkable collection of film reviews, representing a deeply personal, intellectually rigorous journey through some of cinema’s most celebrated works. Its organization is well thought out and comprehensive because it spans several cinematic traditions, including westerns, French New Wave, Danish art cinema, and Italian neorealism. Additionally, Mojtahed’s choice of including two Douglas Sirk films and three John Ford films clearly shows that the author grasps a deep understanding that repeatedly engaging with a singular director’s works can give way to more depth in comprehending their work. The author’s further commitment to exploring a filmmaker’s full scope of films is demonstrated by including seven Luis Benuel films, which span several periods and cultural contexts.

Mojtahed has a solid grasp on how he approaches film analysis. He chooses to focus on how a film’s visual elements can generate an emotional response in the audience. Examples of this would be how Douglas Sirk utilized back projection in Written on the Wind and how Nicholas Ray used mirror imagery in In a Lonely Place. These represent technical decisions that serve the deeper thematic meaning behind them.

Mojtahed’s approach to composing the articles proves equally easy to read and elegant, which is no easy feat. When he discusses Michelangelo Antonioni’s trilogy, this plainly demonstrates a worldly understanding of how artists, including filmmakers, often explore recurring themes across many different works. His thorough analysis of Blow-Up proves among the most insightful of the essays because it examines how Thomas’s fake world reflects a disconnect of modern society from real, lived experience.

Motjahed’s treatment of Jean Renoir’s work is noteworthy. The author expresses a bold conviction that Renoir’s post-American color films represent his finest work.

Historical context throughout the collection enriches the reviews. For example, the author’s mention of how the Cahiers du Cinéma critics revolutionized film criticism by introducing auteur theory stands as an essential background for understanding contemporary film evaluation. In addition, examining how the Sight and Sound polls changed with the decades offers the reader worthwhile insight into shifting critical priorities and cultural values alike.

The author’s sheer selection of a vast variety of films reveals an impressive range and depth. Each review clearly shows how Motjahed has the ability to find fresh perspectives on well-studied works, all the while maintaining a scholarly tone. His discussion about Italian neorealism, particularly the correction of misconceptions about Visconti’s Ossessione, shows his commitment to both historical accuracy and nuanced understanding.

It should be noted that Motjahed’s comment regarding the 2022 Sight and Sound poll “strongly illustrat[ing] a trend toward prioritizing ideology over artistic excellence” may potentially be limiting for the book’s current relevance because it demonstrates a certain resistance toward ever-evolving critical perspectives.

Second Takes succeeds as a scholarly resource and a passionate advocacy for cinema as a serious, relevant, evolving art form. That Motjahed can balance technical analysis with emotional response and historical context with personal reflection renders a unique work that will reward film enthusiasts and scholars alike. Second Takes stands tall as a living testament to the enduring power of film criticism to illuminate the depths of the cinematic art form.

 

 

This Editorial Review was written by the Book Review Directory staff. To receive a similarly honest, professional review for one of your own books, click here.